664 
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS. 
comes remarkable. Early in the morning he comes forth 
from his bushy roost, and struts about with a curving 
neck, raising his ruff, expanding his tail like a fan, 
and seeming to mimic the ostentation of the Turkey. He 
now seeks out or meets his rival, and several pairs at a 
time, as soon as they become visible through the dusky 
dawn, are seen preparing for combat. Previously to this 
rencontre, the male, swelling out his throat, utters what 
is called a tooting , a ventriloqual, humming call on the 
female, three times repeated, somewhat similar to the 
humming jar of the Night Hawk ; and, though uttered in 
so low a key, it may yet be heard 3 or 4 miles in a still 
morning. While engaged in fighting with each other, 
the males are heard to utter a rapid, petulant cackle, 
something in sound like excessive laughter. The tooting 
is heard from before day-break till 8 or 9 o’clock in the 
morning. As they frequently assemble at these scratching - 
places , as they are called, ambuscades of bushes are form- 
ed round them, and many are shot from these coverts. 
The female carefully conceals her nest in some grassy 
tussuck on the ground, and is but seldom discovered. 
The eggs are from 10 to 12; and of a plain brownish 
color. The young are protected and attended by the fe- 
male only, who broods them under her wings in the man- 
ner of the common fowl, and leads them to places suitable 
for their food, sometimes venturing with her tender 
charge to glean along the public paths. When thus sur- 
prised, the young dart into the neighbouring bushes, and 
there skulk for safety, while the wily parent beguiles the 
spectator with her artful pretences of lameness. The 
affectionate parent and her brood thus keep together 
throughout the whole season. By the aid of a dog they 
are easily hunted out, and are readily set, as they are 
not usually inclined to take wing. In the prairies, how- 
